Most people hire a criminal defense attorney too late. By then, critical decisions have already been made, and options that once existed are gone.
The short answer to the question in this headline is: as early as possible. If you are facing any kind of criminal charge in Michigan, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, understanding your criminal defense options before you say or do anything is one of the most important steps you can take. That is not an exaggeration. What happens in the earliest hours and days of a criminal case can shape everything that follows.
If Police Are Asking You Questions, That Is Already a Signal
You do not need to be arrested before you reach out to a defense attorney. If law enforcement has contacted you, asked you to come in for questioning, or if you believe you are under investigation for something, that is reason enough to call. Anything you say to police, even something that seems harmless or clarifying, can be used against you later. Voluntary statements made before an attorney is involved are among the most damaging pieces of evidence that show up in criminal cases, and in many situations, they are entirely avoidable.
A lot of people think they can explain their way out of a situation. While it’s understandable, talking to the police without a lawyer present tends to make things worse. A defense attorney can help you understand what you should and should not say, and can be present during any questioning to shield you from police tactics designed to exatract a confession.
The Window Between Arrest and Arraignment Matters
In Michigan, once someone is arrested, the law requires that an arraignment happen without unnecessary delay. That generally happens within 48 hours. The arraignment is your first formal court appearance. At that hearing, the court informs you of the charges, and a judge sets bond and release conditions.
Having an attorney involved before arraignment can make a real difference in what bond looks like and what conditions are placed on your release. That is not a minor detail. If bond is set too high, or conditions are too restrictive, your life gets put on hold. You might be stuck in jail while your case is pending. An attorney who knows how the 15th District Court and the 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County handle these hearings can advocate for a more reasonable outcome from the start.
What you say, what plea you enter, what conditions you agree to, these choices carry weight throughout the rest of the process. Going into arraignment without experienced legal guidance is a significant risk.
What Is at Stake Beyond the Courtroom
A criminal conviction in Michigan carries consequences that extend well past any sentence a judge hands down. A conviction can affect your ability to find work, secure housing, maintain professional licenses, and in some cases, your immigration status. In Michigan, some eligible convictions are generally set aside automatically after a waiting period — but not all convictions qualify for this. Depending on the crime, it could stay on your record the rest of your life.
To clarify that last point: we are not talking only about felonies. Even misdemeanor convictions can follow someone for years and create real obstacles in their daily life. The stakes are high regardless of the charge level, which is why early legal guidance matters at every tier of the criminal justice system.
Evidence Does Not Wait
One of the practical reasons early involvement matters is evidence. Over time, witnesses disappear, or else their memories fade. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Physical evidence gets processed before anyone has a chance to examine it independently. The earlier a defense attorney gets involved, the more opportunity there is to preserve and evaluate the evidence that could support your defense.
In Washtenaw County, felony cases move through the 22nd Circuit Court at 101 E. Huron Street in Ann Arbor. Misdemeanor matters are handled locally at the 15th District Court, also in the Ann Arbor Justice Center. Each court has its own procedures, its own pace, and its own dynamics. Knowing how those courts operate, and what each stage of the process looks like locally, is something that takes time and experience to understand. Getting an attorney involved early means you have someone who knows that landscape working on your behalf from day one.
You Do Not Have to Wait for Things to Get Serious
People sometimes wait because they think the situation will resolve itself, or because they are not sure the matter is serious enough to warrant legal help. In our experience, that reasoning tends to cost people more in the long run, both in terms of case outcomes and stress.
If you have been arrested, if police have contacted you, if you have received any indication that you may be under investigation, or if charges have already been filed, reaching out to a defense attorney is the right move. The earlier you do it, the more your attorney can do.
At Geherin Law Group, PLLC, we work with clients throughout Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County who are facing criminal charges at every stage of the process. We encourage anyone in this situation to reach out before making any decisions about how to proceed. Early consultation prevents problems that are very difficult to fix later.